Restoring Safety and Learning for Displaced Children through the Early Childhood Education Programme
When kindergarten teachers, assistants, and children were forced to flee to Nahr El-Bared camp, the ECE programme supported by UNICEF and funded by the Government of Norway helped maintain learning, emotional support, and stability during displacement
When the war began, part of the kindergarten team at For Your Peace Association, teachers, assistants, and children, were forced to flee and relocate to the Nahr El-Bared camp within days. The children arrived distressed after experiencing days of explosions and fear, while their teachers tried to provide reassurance despite facing the same uncertainty.
Ensuring Continuity of Learning through the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Programme, supported by UNICEF and funded by the Government of Norway
In response to the sudden displacement, Al-Najda Kindergarten with the support of UNICEF immediately agreed to host the children through a double-shift system and welcomed the entire educational team without hesitation. This swift coordination provided the children with a safe, organized environment and enabled the teachers to continue their work without interruption.
The reunion of the teachers with their students inside the new classrooms became a critical turning point. Fear began to fade as the children reconnected with familiar faces, routines, and activities that brought them a sense of comfort. The impact was immediate, emotional stability improved, attendance became consistent, participation increased, and the children gradually regained confidence. Parents, seeing this renewed sense of safety, began encouraging others to enroll their children as well.
One particularly meaningful moment came from a pair of twins who had been in KG1 during the displacement period. When they returned to register for KG2, they asked to join the class of the teacher who had supported them during the crisis, even though she had not been their original teacher. Their request reflected the strong sense of trust and emotional security built during that difficult time.
A Safe Return to Learning for Displaced Children
This experience demonstrated how coordinated efforts within the Early Childhood Education programme can ensure continuity of learning, emotional support, and stability for children even during emergencies. Through the ECE programme, supported by UNICEF and funded by the Government of Norway, displaced children were able to regain a sense of safety, return to their daily routines, and continue learning in a supportive environment.
